EGF man charged after 3-year-old found seriously injured

An East Grand Forks man faces felony charges in connection with a Wednesday incident that seriously injured a three-year-old boy.

According to Polk County court documents … East Grand Forks Police got a report around 2:20 PM that a child fell down some stairs at a duplex on the 700 block of 3^rd Avenue Northeast.   An officer found the boy breathing but not responsive.

28-year-old Rogelio Anguiano told the officer he was babysitting the boy while the boy’s mother – who he was dating — was at work.  Anguiano said he tried to perform CPR.

As the boy was taken to Altru, Anguiano rode with the officer…then called the boy’s mother and said in Spanish, “If they arrest me, tell them that you are the one that hit him.”

An Altru doctor said the boy had bleeding on his brain, plus bruises, and was being moved to Fargo Sanford hospital for emergency surgery. He said the injuries appeared to be the result of child abuse.

On Thursday, a Sanford doctor told E-G-F police the injuries appeared to be caused by blunt force trauma. She said a significant portion of the boy’s skull had to be removed to relieve pressure. She said the injury almost killed the boy.

She also said the boy had bruises on his buttocks, chin and groin area.

Anguiano was taken into custody. He has a criminal history in his native Texas, including assault and drug offenses.

Anguiano faces a maximum of 20 years and/or a $30,000 fine on the first-degree assault charge, and a maximum of 10 years and/or a $20,000 fine on the malicious punishment charge.